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Viking River Cruises

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Viking Emerald

Viking Mani

Viking Forseti

Viking Alruna

Viking Var

Viking Rinda

Viking Kvasir

Viking Hlin

Viking Kara

Viking Eir

Viking Idi

Viking Atla

Viking Tialfi

Viking Ingvi

Viking Kadlin

Viking Alsvin

Viking Aegir

Viking Embla

Viking Tor

Viking Jarl

Viking Rolf

Viking Gullveig

Viking Idun

Viking Buri

Viking Delling

Viking Lofn

Viking Baldur

Viking Hermod

Viking Bragi

Viking Gefjon

Viking Vilhjalm

Viking Vidar

Viking Magni

Viking Lif

Viking Egil

Viking Legend

Viking Skadi

Viking Skirnir

Viking Njord

Viking Heimdal

Viking Modi

Viking Astrild

Viking Odin

Viking Ve

Viking Vili

Viking Hild

Viking Mimir

Viking Beyla

Viking Ingvar

Viking Hemming

Viking Truvor

Viking Torgil

Viking Akun

Viking Herja

Viking Einar

Viking Helgi

Viking Sigyn

Viking Osfrid

Viking Gersemi

Viking Sigrun

Viking Hervor

Viking Fjorgyn

Viking Ra

Viking Radgrid

Viking Ullur

Viking Tir

Viking Kari

Viking Vali

Viking Skaga

Viking Mississippi

Viking Mekong

Viking Gymir

Viking Osiris

Viking Egdir

Viking Helgrim

Viking Saigon

Viking Rurik

Viking Mandalay

Viking MS Antares

Viking Aton

Viking Freya

Outstanding Cruise

Jost Van Dyke

Very nice staff; food was good but not excellent; the fact that one excursion in each port was included in the cost of the trip was a nice perk. The two paid excursions that we took were both excellent. The two pre trip days that we took (as part of the package) in Amsterdam were good. The hotel was above average but the best part was that it was located in a central part of the city very close to the Central train station. The one bad part of the pre trip were the directions given to us to meet the bus that was to take us to the ship. We basically spent at least an hour trying to determine where the exact meeting place was. The guides on all of the excursions were most informative and all of them had a good command of English. Our cabin was small but very well kept by the ship housekeeping staff.

First riverboat cruise in The Netherlands

Our "Holland and Belgium" cruise on Viking Kvasir was our first river cruise since the rough Covid times. It once again (this was our fifth Viking trip) showed the intrinsic quality of Viking ships, itineraries, care for passengers and excursions. It also hinted at some cost-cutting that has been exercised since the lean times of Covid. 

The Kvasir is a standard European Viking longship that seems to get its most use on the Antwerp-to-Amsterdam route. The crew's familiarity with that combination of river and canal has produced experienced answers and guidance for travelers about weather, excursions, local traditions and more.  Guest services had quick responses to all our questions. That experience also prompted the senior officers to add a quick walking tour of Brussels to the scheduled activities when the boat could not be docked at its usual position in Antwerp. 

By this time, most Viking customers are familiar with the amenities of the longships, the procedures for transfers, the in-boat communications system using audio and video and the lectures and entertainment available in the Lounge. On this trip, the Program Director did an outstanding job of organizing the excursions and dealing with the general riverboat congestion. 

On nearly every category, we were quite pleased. Only a couple of notes. We and some other passengers were disappointed with what we saw as a  lessening of the quality and portion size of the lunch and dinner offerings. One dinner entree, purporting to be an eggplant moussaka, appeared to to be a cylinder of diced tomatoes with a sliver or two of eggplant. The chef promised a Philadelphia cheesesteak and a Cuban sandwich at lunch that must have come from a Weight Watchers cookbook. His crabcake entree (one) would have been deep-sixed in Baltimore. And portion sizes seemed small.

To be fair, the chef tried to be innovative and most of his offerings were good, especially his chateaubriand. Overall, however, some of us felt it did not meet earlier Viking standards.

Several of the excursions we chose were excellent. For the visit to the windmills at Kinderdijk, we opted to travel on a canal barge rather than walking. That was great, mainly because the miller we met was so enthusiastic and informative. Similiarly, our visit to to the site of the former Roman town of Xanten was fascinating because the tour guide was so passionate and expert about its archeology. Finally, a cheese-making workshop at a dairy farm near Amsterdam was a fine way to end the trip.

One piece of advice. The Netherlands tend to be cooler than mid-America, so July is an ideal time to schedule.

A rewarding introduction to The Netherlands

Had a 5 star experience on our first transatlantic vacation aboard Viking River cruise. The ship was well maintained, beautiful in every room and quiet for good nights rest so we could take adventures every day. Every stop had free walking tours by LOCALs -who really knew their towns, had such pride in their stories and were informative and funny. Once we got acclimated - we were free to venture out on our own in the afternoons. Took a lovely e-bike tour to see windmills - Even though a little rainy - it was one of the best tours I have taken. The personnel on the ship were friendly, attentive, engaging - there are not enough superlatives to explain how well this trip went. It was seamless from start to finish ( even with a slight adjustment on first day where we started in Brussels versus Antwerp) - Viking personnel take care of you.  The food was always fresh and local to the ports we were in. Protions were perfectly designed so you could taste everything but not be stuffed.

Amazing Service, sites and ship

We were traveling with another couple who were new to Viking.   This was our second Viking trip. We all had a fabulous experience on this cruise!   The people made all the difference.  The entire staff…everyone we encountered was genuinely friendly and were dedicated to taking care of us.   The other cruisers were fun too.  We made many new friends.  The food was excellent!  Of course we enjoyed the ports and the local guides.  The local entertainment they brought onboard were very entertaining!  The ship was spotless.  The staterooms were attended to twice daily.   Overall I would give it an A+.  We throughly recommend taking a Viking cruise.   We arrived a few days early in Amsterdam,, taking advantage of the pre-cruise extension.  This gave us four fabulous days in Amsterdam.  They put us up in the Hyatt Regency and provided a Viking concierge.   This was helpful when planning excursions and planning dinners etc.

Excellent experience!

This was our first cruise ever with any company, so we weren't sure what to expect. From the moment a Viking rep corraled us at the airport in Brussels, it was a first-class experience. The common areas on the ship were opulent, the stateroom was surprisingly cofortable -- though the shower was abit tight for my 6-foot-tall boyfriend and the bed was rather hard. I suggest opting for the bacony room, as we thoroughly enjoyed watching the countryside slide by when the ship was moving. The food was hands-down the best I've ever had, especially the regional tasting menus. We were a bit intimidated by the family-style seating in the dining room, but we got to know some ver interesting people. Tip: If you'd prefer to dine at a table for two, stake out the Aquavit Lounge EARLY, wheer you can snag a smaller table. There are only a few, so you have to be strategic. The entire staff and crew were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. And it really is a joy to unpack once, then visit 6 or 7 European cities without having to move from hotel to hotel. Oh, and the local guides were magnificent! They shared not only history of the places we visited but a few personal stories and food reccommendations as well. I highly recommend the Flavors of Antwerp walking tour. It was delicious! We have already booked a second tour. Viking is an investment in memories and exerience that you will not regret!

Experience of a Lifetime

We had traveled with Viking previously and were impressed by the all inclusiveness and the on board hospitality. This, being the ships last cruise of the year, seemed to have run on a budget. We bought the Silver Spirits beverage package which boasts premium alcohols, but almost everything I asked for was out from the very beginning of the cruise, and not replenished during.  There was plenty of low end wine available.  The meals were good, but nothing compared to the prior cruise with Viking, and the Aquavit option to eat when the dining room was not open, was also often not open.  On the upside, I did not gain any weight on this trip!!

The majority of the staff were truly remarkable, especially considering the circumstances mentioned above as they had to deal with a number of complaints.  All in all I would travel with Viking again, but definitely not the last cruise of the year.

The cruise provided the essentials.

I study history and have wanted to go to Belgium and the Netherlands to see the culture, architecture and art. We have tried a few cruise lines but like Viking the best. The cruise meet are high expectations for Viking. The tour guides were all excellent and fun. The cruise director Chantel was the best. She was full of enthusiasm and fun. She was very interactive with the cruisers. She made the trip fun. There was a good mix between structured time and free time. The food on the ship was delicious. All staff were pleasant and accommodating. They were very accommodating to people with mobility and handicap issues. We did the pre to Bruges. Bruges is a gem. Highly recommend. The pre and post cruise hotels were excellent. As a bonus it seems we meet the nicest and most interesting people on a Viking cruise. I would definitely recommend this cruise to my friends.

Viking Belgium and Holland Fun Sail

The crew on the ship were very very attentive and helpful in all regards. The wait staff in the restaurant were among the best I have ever seen or experienced. The room attendant's were thorough and friendly. I particularly enjoyed the program director for his port talks and arranging all of the tours. We went on this cruise because Belgium and the Netherlands were two places in Europe that I'd never been to or seen but heard so much about. They did not disappoint. The guides for the tours were both knowledgeable and helpful to all of the guests particularly those in need of help on the tours. The ship itself was immaculate and we felt safe thruout the voyage. The variety of food and drinks were excellent as my wife and I are vegetarians and it is sometimes difficult to find a choice of meals on a cruise. The chef did an amazing job.

Fantastic cruise

This cruise fit nicely into our schedule and offered us a link to friends we would visit in Capri following the end of the cruise. We were delighted by the variety of events - lectures, excursions, tours - offered as well as the first-class service aboard the Kvasir. The cuisine was excellent as was the dining service. The knowledgeable staff provided us with suggestions for amazing attractions to visit that were off the beaten path in Amsterdam that we would otherwise have never known existed. Making new friends among the other guests added another valuable dimension to the trip for both of us. The comfortable lounge area facilitated our meeting other guests and sharing the Kvasir experience.  As this river cruise was our first, we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet the ship was and how smooth the ride when moving between ports. The well-designed stateroom was more than adequate for us and the veranda made for comfortable views of the passing countryside. Our overall experience on the Kvasir was amazing and we are already planning our next trip.

Tranquility Defined

Our good friends invited us to join them on rhis river cruise and we’re so glad they did. The boat was beautiful, the crew was professional and caring, and I can honestly say it was all about the passengers for the entire cruise. The lounge was relaxing, the coffee station was always stocked with goodies, and the dining room accommodated everyone on board comfortably. The upper deck was a great place to sit and relax or walk laps for exercise. The crew all worked very hard each and every day to make everyone happy and everything as perfect as possible. A special call out to Tatiana in housekeeping, and Rumen, Renato, and Darya on the waitstaff. These individuals made our cruise even more special and we will keep memories of them in our hearts always. I highly recommend Viking, especially if it’s your first cruise. They’ll set the standard for future cruise choices!

Viking - Our First River Cruise

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